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Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of conventional (CONV) and organic (ORG) management on grain yield, nutritional composition and quality traits of winter barley, winter spelt, spring oat and winter wheat over a three- year field experiment. The aim was to identify species-specific productivity-quality relationships and determine the relative contributions of management and seasonal variation to cereal performance. Across all species, CONV management consistently maximised grain yield, with winter barley reaching 7.03 t ha 1 with 3.33 t ha 1 under ORG, and winter wheat producing 6.43 versus 3.17 t ha 1 under CONV compared , respectively. In contrast, ORG management enhanced grain nutritional quality by increasing micronutrient concentrations, particularly Zn, Cu, Fe and Mo; for example, winter wheat under ORG accumulated 39.54 mg kg 1 under CONV, while spring oat exceeded 79 mg kg 1 Zn compared with 26.98 mg kg 1 Fe under ORG conditions. Among the cereals studied, conventional hulled winter barley showed the highest β-glucan content, kernel width and thousand-kernel weight, whereas spring oat had higher fat, fibre and dry matter concentrations. Multivariate analyses showed that species identity was the main determinant of grain quality architecture, substantially outweighing management effects, while year significantly influenced most traits, reflecting strong genotype × environment × management interactions. The findings highlight the need to integrate cereal species selection, productivity and both concentration- and area-based nutritional indicators when designing sustainable cereal production systems.
Keywords: cereals, grain yield, multi-year field experiment, micronutrients, β-glucan, proteins, nutritional quality, CONV
Published in DiRROS: 07.09.2026; Views: 89; Downloads: 59
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Abstract: Steroidal glycoalkaloids ( α-solanine and α-chaconine) are major potato toxins whose accurate quantification is often challenged by matrix effects and chromatographic selectivity. This study reports the optimisation and validation of a robust reversed-phase HPLC-DAD method for the determination of glycoalkaloids in potato tissues, combined with a systematic assessment of the environmental sustainability of the analytical workflow. Extraction conditions were optimized by integrating systematic solvent screening with a factorial experimental design to evaluate the effect of key operational variables on glycoalkaloid recovery and refine extraction performance The resulting extraction medium improved extract cleanliness and chromatographic stability. A subsequent C18 solid-phase extraction SPE step further reduced matrix effect and enhanced analytical selectivity. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a conventional C18 column using an acetonitrile-water gradient, providing baseline resolution (Rs > 1.5) of α 2 -solanine and α-chaconine with stable diode-array detection (DAD) at 205 nm. The method was validated according to ICH Q2(R2) and AOAC guidelines, demonstrating excellent linearity (R > 0.995), low limits of detection (0.462–0.767 µg/mL) and quantification (1.540–2.558 µg/mL), high precision (≤ 5% RSD), and recoveries of 90–105%. Robustness testing confirmed minimal sensitivity to routine variations in chromatographic parameters. Application to potato breeding lines demonstrated reliable quantification and revealed genotype-dependent variation in glycoalkaloid content. The environmental assessment of the analytical procedure was evaluated using Analytical Eco-scale, GAPI and AGREE metrics, demonstrating reduced solvent consumption, avoidance of strongly acidic extraction conditions, and a simplified sample preparation workflow. The proposed HPLC-DAD workflow provides a validated, high-performance, and environmentally conscious approach for routine GA quantification, suitable for food-safety monitoring, regulatory compliance and breeding programme applications.
Keywords: α-chaconine, α-solanine, analytical method, HPLC-DAD, potato tubers, environmental sustainability
Published in DiRROS: 10.06.2026; Views: 273; Downloads: 280
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Abstract: AbstractUnderstanding interactions among genotype, environment, and management iscrucial for optimizing crop performance under climate variability. Sweetpotato (Ipo-moea batatas (L.) Lam.), a nutrient-rich root crop increasingly cultivated in temperateregions, exhibits complex source-sink dynamics that remain insufficiently character-ized in organic and mulch-based systems. This study evaluated vegetative growth andstorage root yield of four varieties (Martina, Janja, Lučka, and Purple Speclet) grownunder conventional and organic production, with and without polyethylene mulch,across two contrasting seasons (2021–2022) in Slovenia. A randomized completeblock design with four replications was used to assess 15 agro-morphological traits,and linear mixed-effects models and multivariate analyses quantified factor effectsand interactions. Variety and cultivation method predominantly influenced vegetativetraits (η2 = 30.26% and 24.85%), while variety and growing season contributed mostto yield variance (35.56% and 20.88%). Polyethylene mulch significantly increasedabove-ground biomass (677–1329 g plant−1 ) and total storage root yield (922–1548 gplant−1 ), confirming its role in improving the soil-plant microenvironment. Mar-tina showed the highest and most stable yield across systems. Pearson correlationsindicated strong positive relationship among yield components (r = 0.77–0.93) andmoderate positive correlations between vegetative biomass and yield (r = 0.49–0.60),reflecting coordinated yet distinct source-sink patterns. Principal component analysisseparated treatment combinations and revealed significant genotype × management× season interactions, particularly under mulch in 2022. Overall, combining suit-able varieties with polyethylene mulch substantially enhanced productivity, reducingthe organic-conventional yield gap to ∼11%. These results support climate-adapted strategies based on efficient resource use and optimized biomass partitioning intemperate agroeccosystems.
Keywords: sweetpotato, genotype, environment, management, climate variability
Published in DiRROS: 21.05.2026; Views: 333; Downloads: 393
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Abstract: Lupins (Lupinus spp.) are climate-resistant grain legumes gaining attention as sustainable protein sources. However, their use in the human diet is limited by quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), a class of nitrogenous secondary metabolites. QAs represent a nutritional paradox: They are central to plant defence mechanisms, yet confer toxicity and bitterness that compromise food safety and consumer acceptance. Recent findings suggest that at sub-toxic concentrations, certain QAs may exert bioactivities that could be important for metabolic regulation. Thus, the sustainable integration of lupins into food systems depends on whether QAs are considered as undesirable contaminants or redefined as bioactive phytochemicals with dose-dependent functional potential. Significant methodological progress has been made over the last five years. Advances in high-resolution techniques and metabolomics have expanded the structural catalogue of QAs, facilitated species- and genotype-specific chemotyping and allowed first conclusions on biosynthesis. At the technological level, novel processing methods have improved the efficiency of QA removal while maintaining protein quality and, in some cases, have enabled the selective extraction of alkaloids for potential valorisation. This review critically synthesises recent advances in QA chemistry, biosynthesis, analytical methodologies, toxicology, processing strategies and emerging bioactivities. Despite this progress, major challenges remain, including the lack of standardised analytical protocols, insufficiently defined sensory thresholds, fragmented regulatory frameworks and the absence of clinical validation. Future research should shift from exclusive alkaloid elimination towards controlled modulation and selective valorisation to establish lupins as safe, multifunctional crops contributing to food security, human health and sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: Lupinus, quinolizidine alkalois, food safety, analytical methods, detoxification, functional bioactivity
Published in DiRROS: 03.03.2026; Views: 629; Downloads: 546
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Keywords: genomics, genomic resources, genome sequencing, common buckwheat, genomics-assisted breeding, flavonoid content, flower morphology, buckwheat species, genetic gain, agronomic traits, nutritional quality traits
Published in DiRROS: 10.11.2025; Views: 761; Downloads: 596
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